Texas Tech vs Oklahoma

[schooner2]

We all seem a bit quiet about the Raiders vs the Sooners tomorrow night. This has been a huge series the past 3 years. Texas Tech is always the great litmus test to see just how good you are.

I know OU owned the series last year, but I had forgotten that OU has beaten Tech 5 times in a row now. I remember when it felt like OU would never beat Tech.

Well, now odds are definitely with Tech in this matchup and it will be an upset if OU were to win it's 6th in a row.

Without Caton underneath, I'm afraid OU will have a lot of trouble with Pierson. If Shuknecht gets in foul trouble, OU will really be hurting because I think OU has noone else at all to guard Pierson. Pierson would eat Preston's lunch at this stage in Preston's development.

Should be a good frontcourt matchup with Jackson and Villarroel against Grant and Ritchie. Hard to compare these frontcourts because they are so different. OU is all about speed, creating steals and scoring. Jackson and Villarroel are the top 2 scorers for OU and between them have already created 63 steals on the season.

Grant has probably the most unbelievable statistic I've ever seen.....108 assists to only 46 turnovers. Are you kidding me? For a freshman. Wow. That a 2.35 to 1 ratio. Absolutely mind-boggling for a freshman. That's extremely rare to see. And Ritchie is the primary 3-point bomb machine for Tech. Tech primarily gets its points from its frontcourt.

So I'm sure Coach Coale has been preaching to Jackson and Villarroel and Welch - they absolutely have to deny the entry passes. Make it extremely difficult to pass underneath to Greenwalt and Pierson. I'm not sure how good Grant is at driving and dishing (probably so given all those dishes), but think it would be wise to have Perkins constantly trying to break into the backcourt defense. If they can find holes in OU's backcourt defense, it will be a long night for the Sooners.

For OU it will be all about creating the turnover. Tech has given up 17.5 turnovers a game in conference play. But OU will have to create a lot more than that to stay in this one. Otherwise, OU will have to start magically making a lot of shots. They are a not very good 41.8% fg pct team for the season. Even worse in conference play.

My prognostication? OU's defense will have a good game for about 25 minutes or so. But Villarroel and Shuknecht foul trouble spells the end of Sooner domination over the Red Raiders as Pierson and Perkins have their way in the end.

TTU - 73, OU - 58. Boy, I hope I'm wrong.

[RaiderPower1]

Good analysis schooner. I think the key to this game will be obviously be rebounding and defense but more so TURNOVERS. The time I saw OU against Stanford, the Sooners turned the ball over way too much. If they want to stay in the game then the Sooners will have to take care of the ball. Grant and Perkins will have to force Welch into some bad decisions and pressure up against Villaroel. I don't know how good a three point threat her and Jackson are, but I think just deny Welch and keep Jackson and Villaroel from penatrating.

Unless a miracle happens, I don't think Pierson, Greenwalt, Davis, Ayers, and Clark can be handled by OU's frontcourt. It'll be a long night for them if Pierson and Greenwalt have big games in points and on the boards. Greenwalt has performed quite well against OU in the past two contests and I expect for her to break out of her two game slump. OU's backcourt is pretty talented and might have an advantage over Tech's but I think the frontcourt for Tech dominates and the Lady Raiders finally get a win over the Sooners (seems like forever).

Texas Tech 81 OU 65

[swok34]

Actually.....Schuknecht will have to cover Greenwalt and we have that freshmen guard that has taken over at "that spot that everyone gets injured at" in the power forward.

Villarroel's pretty good about staying out of foul trouble, Schuknecht is not, nor is Preston...our freshmen post. Villarroel and Jackson are both pretty good 3-point shooter's as is Stephanie Luce......they just don't take very many.

In the coaches teleconference today, Coach Coale said what concerns her the most (in addition to the frontcourt) is Texas Tech's transition game...she mentioned that it's something no one really talks about and they are very good at it.

I'm not predicting an OU win, just don't think OU has the frontcourt to handle a Pierson/Greenwalt combo. I do hope the crowd shows up and "makes some noise".....and these OU girls just might surprise us. They certainly have surprised me in some games this year.

[Bball Girl]

geez...I hope you're right. We lost to OU 3 times last year and that's plenty for us in a row...

Grant can dish...boy can she dish and Pierson and Davis have made some pretty spectacular dishes to each other. Grant can drive when she chooses. Grant to Perkins on the long bomb...you can see Jia (just like her Dad) racing down the court looking over her shoulder and Erin dropping the ball in her hands...Jia's Dad was a wide receiver for NY Giants

Our weakness right now is our perimeter play, we are struggling to knock down those outside jumpers and if the inside shuts down, we've run into some problems (like with BU) getting those suckers to go in the basket. Coach Sharp expressed concern that we need to stay out of foul trouble expecially against OU's perimeter players, they're fast and smart and we could find ourselves in big time trouble if the fouls starting mounting up.

I think you'll be impressed with Ritchie's much improved defensive skills and she'll get a good test with Villaroel and Jackson (I was so impressed with Jackson at the final four) and we're hearing great things about Villaroel.

I think Tech's depth could be the deciding factor...it's hard to imagine in a tight game like BU having 3 freshman on the court...but that's what happened and they did a great job. In the past when Pierson fouled out, there was a sense of panic, but not anymore...we hate to lose her, but there's a crew waiting to go in. We have to keep Grant out of foul trouble too...if she has a weakness, that's it...she goes for it sometimes when she should back off

Since neither one of us has had great shooting nights recently, it will be interesting to see what happens.

The team also got a bit of a pep talk from the 93 team including a lecture...on you don't know how good you've got it with chartered flights, fancy warmups, etc...we won the NCAA with a lot less and if we can do that, so can you...so perhaps that'

I wish the game were going to be on tv...I really enjoy watching our coaches play each other...there is a lot of affection and respect between the two and I think they enjoy matching wits against each other.

I'll pick Tech by 15.

[AusTech]

On paper OU loses this game big, but the Big 12 will be tougher than most expect this year. I think OU comes out and plays with pride and passion and loses in a good effort by 6.

[DBLTFarmer]

How does OU defend Tech?? Thats going to be a very interesting question. Baylor and Rice both had success dropping down hand double and triple teaming Tech's post. Tech didnt get much out of the perimeter game so Baylor was able to continue with the strategy. When Ritchie was in the game they stayed on her, but when Jackson came in they sagged more than ever.

I would suspect that OU would put more pressure on Tech's guards, and try and double team the posts. Tech has shown success beating the doubleteams by having good interior passing. Baylor negated that to an extent and I expect OU might try some of the same.

For you OU fans, which strategy will Sherri take??

[swok34]

Sherri's #1 secret plan that absolutely confuses offenses.....

switch defenses every possession down the court.... http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif Just confuse the lasses.

[Court Jester]

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I wish the game were going to be on tv...I really enjoy watching our coaches play each other...
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If you live in Lubbock, it IS ON TV....Fox Acuweather channel 32 over the air. Gotta have rabbit ears though http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[DBLTFarmer]

Swok,

If Sherri does that, I hope Erin Grant shows how good a point guard she is!! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[35TangoTango]

I hear on the news that the vials of bubonic plague reported missing from Texas Tech have now been accounted for - so it's safe to go to the Lloyd Noble Center tonight after all!

http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/eek.gif

[elfdenmom]

I got a chuckle from your post, Soonerman, but perhaps not all dangerous substances come in small packages.

While I am on the subject of the game, I would like to thank the support people at OU for the very helpful and gracious way they treated the civilians travelling with the Tech team. Some of us were fortunate enough to enjoy one of the great experiences of a lifetime by travelling with the team to the OU game, and the courtesy and kindness of your staff only added to our pleasure.

[35TangoTango]

Originally posted by elfdenmom:
I got a chuckle from your post, Soonerman, but perhaps not all dangerous substances come in small packages.


I have to disagree with that, having just seen Erin Grant!

BTW, I'v always wondered: Is it elfden-mom, or elf-denmom?

[bornred51]

Went to game in norman last nite....very proud of the way the sooners battled even though the talent difference was very obvious.Impressed by Tech's business-like approach to the game.
There wasn't any of this "we're gona get ya because you've beaten us 5 straight" attitude. They just knew they were better and just went out and did it.For weeks all I've read from raider fans is, Erin Grant is this and Erin Grant is that. Erin Grant is FABULOUS!!!!!!! The raiders have a very bright future, and if the sooners can split the remaining games, it might be Sherrie's best coaching ever. By the way, this is my first post...


[This message has been edited by bornred51 (edited 01-16-2003).]

[This message has been edited by bornred51 (edited 01-16-2003).]

[swok34]

welcome to Hoopscoop, bornred51.....we can NEVER have too many OU fans http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

And I agree about the Texas Tech team and staff. I have all the admiration in the world for Marsha Sharp, great coach.

The OU/Nebraska football series is a great one, and not based on so much hate the way the OU/Texas football series is.....
I really can't think of any teams that the OU women's BB team has any sort of "hate rivalry" with the way the OU/Texas FB series does and I'm very GLAD.

I really enjoy watching all the Big XII women's teams play and appreciate all the fans that post here, otherwise I wouldn't know Erin Grant from Kendra Wecker http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[35TangoTango]

Welcome, BornRed!

To get a little more interest in BigXII basketball, check out Hoopla!

And speaking of Hoopla (notice this smooth segue), I thought it interesting to compare last night's teams in hoopla points.


OU Texas Tech
Jackson 6 Grant 16
Villarroel 21 Perkins 14
Welch 12 Ritchie 8
Andrews -1 Pierson 11
Schuknecht 16 Greenwalt 10

TOTAL 54 59

Best Sub
Wadsworth 10 Davis 20

IMHO, that's a pretty accurate picture! I have a new respect for Hoopla!

[elfdenmom]

Soonerman, I guess it would be elf-denmom. God knows I am no elf myself.

[Jimi]

Welcome bornred51. I was bornred myself but in those days when I hollered "Go Big Red" it was for Nebraska. Now that I have more "experience" in life I have converted to purple http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif (at least for WBB).

You have a first rate WBB program to cheer for.

Go Big 12!!!!!!!!

[bornred51]

Thanks for the welcome everyone!!!!!
When I learn to type as fast as I can talk....watch out!!!